(Closed) Flipping Out – NWR

I graduated in May with a K-12 Special Ed degree from a great Education College. I have had 4 interviews, told I interview AMAZING but I only really care for 2 of the districts. The one has told me that sadly, they have no openings for me but they loved me. The other one has 9 openings (FI god mother works in HR) and I did beyond well on my 1st interview. She said schools have been requesting my information and that I should be getting a call from an Elem. school (my dream) very soon. This was a week ago. I am now flipping out because I have heard nothing! I can NOT be unemployed. I switched my major so many times that I have way to much loan debt to not be making money.

Then to top it off, like most brides Im watching my weight. I lost ALL the weight I wanted to then moved two hours away to live with Fiance and have packed 7 pounds back on and on my 5’3″ frame, it matters. I can not lose any of it! I’m a stress eater. I know this!

Any suggestions?

The only time I feel happy is when my BMs are here and they distract me with wedding plans. But then I freak when I’m alone because my poor dad is going to have to continue to support me until I find work. Including my $1,200 a month student loan payment come November.

Any teachers out there have advice? Is it true that everything happens in August?

Oh, you’ll get a job! Don’t worry! Especially because you’re a special ed teacher. I used to be a special ed teacher, and schools are in desperate need of people like you.

I don’t know when school starts in Ohio (if that’s where you live…) but when I was teaching, I was hired less than two weeks before school started. New Orleans, where I taught, may not be representative of the nation as a whole, but schools tend to do everything at the last minute.

Even if you don’t get a job right away, you can always substitute until someone retires or goes on pregnancy leave. You will get a job.

Around here (southern Missouri) SPED teachers can usually find openings, but regular ed. teachers have a much more difficult time (art teachers can forget it!). With it being the summer, I wouldn’t worry too much because they may be a little lax on their schedule. Also, it’s possible that they have to run things by the school board and have to wait for a meeting to do that.

As for the weight issue, you seem to have identified the problem, so now I think you just need to come up with an alternative. Instead of eating when you feel stressed, can you find something else to do? Try taking a walk or doing some sort of craft. You could look into doing some volunteer work or getting a part time job to keep you busy and help with finances.

Try not to worry. It sounds like you’ve done great and now you just need to wait for things to fall into place. Good luck!

My sister’s a special ed teacher, she had no problems getting a job. She also says that everyone needs special ed teachers (she jokes it’s because of the high burn out rate!) Kudos to you for getting that degree!

I’m an elementary teacher…good career choice! I love my job! With that being said, a lot of the times pricipals have to wait and see if there are any internal transfers before they can hire someone new. So if you know there are 9 openings in this school system and feel like you had a good interview, then I wouldn’t worry about it to much. It could be nice to send the principal you interviewed with a Thank You card of some sorts….if there are 9 openings, that probably also means he/she has done many interviews. A little something extra to thank him for the opportunity and that you look forward to the possibility of working with him (blah blah blah) may give you a slight edge over the other candidates.

Take a deep breath. It has been one week. I have been job searching for 5 months. Teaching gigs usually get settled in August (I have several friends who are teachers who are just waiting for the call). Also, as a new teacher just remember, beggars can’t be choosers. It’s very rare that a new teacher gets a top school district, you may have to start out in another school first. So take a deep breath, if you don’t hear anything by the second week in August, follow-up.

Also, you may want to look into a Huntington Learning Center or Phonics center to help tutor. It will keep you relevant and build your resume.

If you’re a teacher I thought part of your federal direct loan can be forgiven. Also, like some previous posters mentioned, sign yourself up for the income based repayment plan or I’m sure you can defer (and claim financial hardship) if you happen to not get the job.

This is from the federal direct loans wesite about IBR: “It does this by capping the monthly payments at 15 percent of your discretionary income (the difference between your Adjusted Gross Income and 150% of the poverty guideline for your family size and state of residence). If you are married and file taxes jointly, both your and your spouse’s income will be considered when calculating your IBR payment amount. If you are married AND file taxes separately, only your income will be considered. Like ICR, after 25 years of qualifying repayment, any remaining balance on the loan will be forgiven, but you may have to pay taxes on the amount forgiven.”

I know its hard, but one week isn’t too long of a time (only five business days right?) Also I happen to know a couple of people that took sub jobs for a year and then were placed permanently. Don’t freak out just yet!

It’s only been a week, that is NOTHING in the world of job hunting! It’s so annoying when you’re looking for a job bc it’s a top priority for you but so NOT a top priority for anyone on the hiring side of things…just be patient, follow up if someone contacts you and keep sending out resumes and cover letters! It took me about 4 months to find a teaching job, you’ll get one soon, esp if you have a connection with your Fi’s mom in HR!! GOOD LUCK!!

PS- DEF look into the income sensitive loan repayment plans, I applied for that and my loan payment dropped from $250 a month to $89 a month…worth the paperwork! Call your loan company, explain the situation and see what they say!

Agree wth everyone here. I am also a teacher, and was also looking for a new job! Not the best time to be looking, but you will definitely find something, especially as a special ed teacher. I had been looking since March, and probably sent out at least 50 resumes, and had many interviews. I just got a job offer last week! It is nerve-wracking, but as someone said, schools don’t really settle their hires right away, especially now when people may be holding onto jobs until the last possible second because they are afraid they may not find anything else. Don’t give up, you will find something!

I’m a special ed. teacher too, and I agree with a previous poster who said schools move slowly in the summer! I was hired with about 2 weeks to go before school started and I remember freaking out thinking I was never going to get a job.

One thing I might suggest (I know it’s common practice around here, but maybe not where you live) is to investigate which schools are hiring for special education positions in the areas you want to work, then e-mail the principal of the school with your resume attached, explaining that you already interviewed with district officials (or whoever it was) but you have a special interest in their school because of X, Y, and Z and would love to work there. The principal may be able to speed the process along, if they really like you.